Poems (Piatt)/Volume 1/His Share and Mine
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HIS SHARE AND MINE.
He went from me so softly and so soon.
His sweet hands rest at morning and at noon;
His sweet hands rest at morning and at noon;
The only task God gave them was to hold
A few faint rosebuds—and be white and cold.
A few faint rosebuds—and be white and cold.
His share of flowers he took with him away;
No more will blossom here so fair as they.
No more will blossom here so fair as they.
His share of thorns he left—and, if they tear
My hands instead of his, I do not care.
My hands instead of his, I do not care.
His sweet eyes were so clear and lovely, but
To look into the world's wild light and shut:
To look into the world's wild light and shut:
Down in the dust they have their share of sleep;
Their share of tears is left for me to weep.
Their share of tears is left for me to weep.
His sweet mouth had its share of kisses—Oh!
What love, what anguish, will he ever know?
What love, what anguish, will he ever know?
Its share of thirst, and murmuring, and moan,
And cries unsatisfied, shall be my own.
And cries unsatisfied, shall be my own.
He had his share of summer. Bird and dew
Were here with him—with him they vanished, too.
Were here with him—with him they vanished, too.
His share of dying leaves, and rains, and frost,
I take, with every dreary thing he lost.
I take, with every dreary thing he lost.
The phantom of the cloud he did not see
For evermore shall overshadow me.
For evermore shall overshadow me.
He, in return, with small, still, snowy feet,
Touched the Dim Path, and made its twilight sweet.
Touched the Dim Path, and made its twilight sweet.